Stove construction



July 9,1957 c H S R STOVE; CONSTRUCTION Fi-led Jan. 27. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V IN vE/vmQ.

i'Qisser dd/W 2 C. E. CHESSER STOVE CONSTRUCTION July 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1954 FIG. 8

In VENTOE United t tes Patent STOVE CONSTRUCTION Cecil E. Chesser, Hebron, Ohio, assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,523

Claims. (Cl. 312--257) My invention relates to a new and improved construction which is applicable to cabinets generally, although in its preferred application I have conceived the invention as particularly suitable for kitchen ranges.

As ordinarily constructed, a cooking range comprises a skeleton frame, usually of structural metal, side paneling normally secured to the frame by such means as riveting, welding or the like. My invention has to do especially with an improvement in the attachment of such side panels.

I have found from my long experience in the stove industry that ranges constructed according to conventional methods, as outlined above, are subject to numerous objections. Because of the absolutely rigid attachment of the panels to the frame, the enamel coating normally applied to such articles is frequently damaged even by moderate shocks, such as those encountered in shipping or other movement. Other damage to the enamel may be caused in the screwing of a panel to the frame, etc.

I have conceived of an improved construction wherein, in lieu of rigidly mounting a side panel on a frame, as in the usual construction, the panel is floatingly mounted thereon, resilient bumpers being provided at the corners to take up shock. The construction is extremely simple and at the same time is sutficiently secure for all purposes. I find, furthermore, that my improved construction is substantially less expensive to fabricate than the designs now employed in kitchen ranges and the like, especially in the reduction of labor, inasmuch as the drilling of holes for screws, riveting and welding are eliminated, the only drilling required in accordance with my invention being that necessary to hang the panel in the furnace for firing the enamel coating. Also, with my invention, the panel may be readily removed by hand for repair, etc.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein-- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a kitchen range skeleton frame and a side panel to be mounted thereon in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper side of the range shown in Fig. 1 with the side panel mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 except taken at the bottom rather than the top of the stove.

The numeral indicates generally the skeleton frame of a kitchen range, said frame comprising a front member 12 and side members 15. It will be understood, of course, that in accordance with conventional design for articles of this class, the openings in the front of the frame are closed by access doors for oven, utensils, etc., while the aperture 18 in the side of the frame will normally be closed on the outside by a closure panel, a liner normally being secured to the inside with suitable insulation in-between.

2,798,785 Patented July 9, 1957 In accordance with my invention, the side panel P is formed of suitable material, such as sheet metal, being ultimately enameled to provide a desirable finishing surface, in accordance with conventional practice. The panel P has a major rectangular planar portion 20 and is provided with the usual finishing flange 22 which extends around on all four sides thereof. Return flanges 25 and 25' extend inwardly from the flange 22 at the front and rear of the panel, respectively, in a plane substantially parallel to that of the major plane of the panel P, and projecting from said front return flange 25 and coplanar therewith is a plurality of tabs 27. In the preferred embodiment shown I employ two of such tabs 27, spaced a relatively short distance from the top and bottom, respectively, of the panel.

Designed to register with the tabs 27 are slots 30 provided in the front portion 12 of the frame 10.

In order to effect a snug, tight attachment of the panel P to the frame and prevent rattling and consequent possible damage to the enamel, etc., I provide at each of the four corners of the panel P a bumper 35, The bumpers are preferably formed of resilient resinous material such as natural or synthetic rubber or the like and, as seen best in Fig. 3, are of such thickness as effectively to fill the space between the panel P and the stove frame, comprising a rectangular portion 36 disposed between the major planar portion of the panel P and the side portion 15 of the frame andalso having at two adjacent sides thereof a perpendicularly extending flange 38 occupying the space between the frame and the finishing flange 22 of the panel P. A stud 40, preferably tapered as seen best in Fig. 3, is formed integrally with the portion 36 of the bumpers 35, 35' projecting perpendicularly therefrom and engageable in suitable apertures formed in the side portion 15 of the frame.

It will be noted that the cushioning members or bumpers 35' employed at the rear top, are different from the bumper 35 employed at the front in that both of the rear bumpers 35 have formed integrally therewith an integral lug extending laterally from the side flange 38 thereof. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 that the flange 38 and lug 50 of said rear bumpers 35 are so proportioned as snugly to fit the space between the rear flange 52 of the frame 10 and the flange 22 of panel P. It should also be noted that the reverse flange 25 at the rear of panel P is of such a length that when the parts are assembled, as seen best in Fig. 3, the return flange 25 abuts the free edge of the flange 52.

To mount the panel on the frame, the rear portion of the panel is placed in properly aligned position on the frame, as seen in Fig. 3; the panel is then manually urged toward the front of the frame, compressing the bosses 50 of the bumpers 35' so that the front flanges 22 and 25 are spaced a slight distance in advance of their proper position, with the tabs 27 brought into registry with the apertures 30. Obviously upon release of this forward force, the resilient bosses 50 urge the panel rearwardly so that the tabs 27 will pass through the slots 30 of the frame and the panel will then be in properly registered position on the frame.

The panel may be manually removed for reenameling or repair by a reverse of the above procedure.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cabinet having two members consisting of a frame and a removable panel covering a portion of the frame, and means attaching the panel to said the panel and the frame, said panel haying a reversely bent portion at opposite sides thereof, said bent portion at one side having attaching means engaging cooperating attaching means on the frame, and the cushioning element at the opposite side having an integral portion substantially occupying the space between said bent portion and the frame, whereby the attaching means may be brought into registry by compressive action of said integral portion by the panel.

2. In combination, a cabinet comprising a frame and a removable panel covering a portion of said frame, and means attaching the panel to th frame comprising spaced openings formed in the frame and elements protruding from the panel and engaged in said openings, and resilient cushioning elements disposed between the corner portions of the panel and the frame, said panel having a finishing flange extending therearound at approximately right angles to the plane thereof and a reverse flange at opposite sides thereof, the reverse flange at one side having coplaner tabs extending therefrom and through apertures in the frame.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said cushioning elements are provided with integral studlike members and said frame is apertured adjacent the corners thereof to receive said members, said panel being floatingly mounted on said frame solely by said attaching means, whereby the panel may be quickly and conveniently manually mounted on the frame without tools.

4. In combination, a cabinet having a rectangular side comprising a frame and a removable panel completely covering said side, said panel having an integral peripheral finishing flange extending around the four sides thereof, and on two opposite sides thereof having a reversely bent portion extending substantially parallel to the face of said panel, said frame having portions abutting said reversely bent portions for limiting the distance of the panel from the frame, resilient cushioning members disposed adjacent the four corners of the frame and disposed between the frame and the panel, said cushioning members having a major portion substantially occupying the space between the frame and panel at said corners and also having an integral portion disposed substantially perpendicularly to the main portion of said cushioning members and disposed between the frame and the finishing flanges of the panel on two sides of the panel, the cushioning members on one side of the frame having a resilient abutment normally slightly greater than the distance between the frame and the finishing flange on that side, whereby upon drawing the panel in a, direction to compress said abutments the panel may be sprung into adjusted position with' relation to the frame.

5. A combination as, defined in claim 4, wherein the frame is apertured adjacent the corners thereof and said cushioning members are provided with integral studlike members seated in said apertures,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Boyden May 27, 1952 

